Under the overpass: Wildlife corridor policies of western Riverside County (California)

Western Riverside County over the past few decades has witnessed both a population explosion as well as a strain on its biological resources, especially wildlife corridor habitat. In order to determine the impacts urbanization has on wildlife corridors, a literature review of the following topics pertaining to wildlife corridors was necessary: principles of island biogeography; road impacts on wildlife corridors; biodiversity impacts created by the loss of wildlife corridor linkages; and wildlife corridor design principles and theories. Upon review of the literature regarding these topics, an overwhelming amount of data suggested that urbanization has and will continue to influence the functionality of wildlife corridors unless measures are taken to minimize effects.; In 1999, the County of Riverside formed a team of expert biologists and urban planners and began its effort to revise the out-dated County General Plan. In 2002, the Riverside County Integrated Project (RCIP) was drafted and today serves as the new Riverside County General Plan. The main goal of the RCIP is to provide a plan that will accommodate the County's anticipated growth by encouraging economic growth and strengthening its infrastructure while maintaining its biological integrity through the development of a Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP). The applicability of the RCIP, MSHCP and State and County environmental disclosure documents like the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), are all critical elements that urban planners and policy makers use to help in the fight to preserve our wildlife corridors.